What is classed as low dose steroids

[Iloveholidays]

Hello All, I don’t post often but follow everyday.

I was diagnosed with pmr Dec 2018, I’m currently on 9mgs of pred (had 2 flares) and starting to reduce to 8.5mg. Is this classed as a low dose of steroid? I have no other conditions, I’m trying to work out if re Covid vaccination if I’m classed high risk critically extremely vulnerable or moderate risk, clinically vulnerable. I never had a shielding letter first time around but have worked from home since March last year as advised by my employer and pretty much stay isolated. Thank you

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

To be flippant...that depends who you talking to.....someone like me who started on 80mg thinks anything below 15mg is low......anyone who started at 15mg thinks that's high!

But realistically, I would say anything below 10mg is classed as low, 10mg to 30mg moderate, 30- 40mg moderate to high, above 40mg high.

If you didn’t have shielding letter first time around, you are unlikely to receive one this time, but probably border on CV because of PMR and Pred - so wise to continue as you have, and wait to be called for vaccine....age comes into equation as well.

[Iloveholidays in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you, that is what I thought.

[piglette]

Last year at around 8mg I was classed as moderate risk, but I think things are different if you take methotrexate when you are higher risk. I work from home.

[Iloveholidays in reply to piglette]

Thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Vulnerabilty/shielding and the vaccine are two different kettles of fish. I think they are really fixating on age for the jab. Under 10mg is generally thought of as low, above 20mg is high dose.

[Iloveholidays in reply to PMRpro]

Yes as I thought I just couldn’t find anything written down. Thank you